Each form group at John Henry Newman Catholic College takes the name of a Saint. These Saints and their lives are integral to our school community, and we celebrate each of their Feast days by inviting all members of the form group to reflect on the lives of their patron Saint in the Chapel during formation time.

St Anne

St Anne

St. Anne was the Grandmother of Jesus Christ. She was born from the House of David, the line which was prophesied to give birth to Christ. Her Hebrew name may have been Hannah, as Anne is the Greek derivative of the name Hannah. St. Anne is the mother of Mary, who gave birth to Jesus. We celebrate her feast day on the 26th of July.

St Bernadette

St. Bernadette

St. Bernadette of Lourdes was a French nun who lived in the 1800s. As a young teenager, she had a series of visions of the Virgin Mary in the Massabielle grotto, leading to the founding of the shrine of Lourdes. Year 12 students have the opportunity to make a pilgrimage to Lourdes with the Birmingham Diocese to visit this sacred site. We celebrate her feast day on the 16th of April.

St John Bosco

St John Bosco

St. John Bosco, also known as Don Bosco, was a young priest who devoted himself to orphaned and homeless child laborers in Turin, Italy. In 1859, inspired by St. Francis de Sales, Don Bosco founded the Salesians to educate and support impoverished boys. We celebrate his feast day on the 31st of January.

St Edward the Confessor

St Edward the Confessor

Edward ruled England from 1042 until his death in 1066. Known for his generosity and piety, he was the founder of Westminster Abbey. He was canonised in 1161 and became known as Edward the Confessor. A confessor is a Saint who proclaimed their faith without dying a martyr’s death. We celebrate his feast day on the 13th of October.

St Francis of Assisi

Born to a wealthy family, St. Francis renounced his wealth and dedicated his life to poverty and serving others. He founded the Franciscan order and lived a life of simplicity. We celebrate his feast day on the 4th of October.

St John the Baptist

St John the Baptist

St. John the Baptist, a Jewish prophet, was revered as the forerunner of Jesus. Known for his austere lifestyle in the Judaean desert, he preached repentance and baptized Jesus in the Jordan River. We celebrate his feast day on the 24th of June.

St Mary Mazzarello

St Mary Mazzarello

Mary was born in Mornese, Italy, and known for her cheerful spirit and strong work ethic. She co-founded the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, also known as the Salesian Sisters. Her life reminds us that holiness is achieved in daily actions. We celebrate her feast day on the 13th of May.

St Therese of Lisieux

Therese of Lisieux, known for her “Little Way,” taught that simple acts of love make a lasting impact. She entered the Carmelite convent at 15 and became a beloved Saint. Her legacy is remembered during “Little Way Week.” We celebrate her feast day on the 1st of October.

St Vincent de Paul

St. Vincent de Paul was a French Catholic priest who dedicated his life to serving the poor. He founded the Congregation of the Mission and the Daughters of Charity, spreading his charitable works throughout the world. We celebrate his feast day on the 27th of September.